Skinny Dipping (With Friends): Essie Sand Tropez

I had quite an issue with indecision last night when it came to choosing a polish to show you today! I had pulled both this polish and Master Plan out of my stash and stared at them for a few hours, consulted friends and even asked the cat before deciding.

Aaand then I found out that the last time I wore it, I hadn't screwed the cap on properly, so I was left with a gummy mess.

Many (many) thinner drops later...I managed to restore it to a respectable consistency and was on my way.

Sand Tropez is from the Spring 2011 A French Affair collection. I remember finding Topless and Barefoot in the store but put it down, thinking I could find both that and this polish in the same location.  Nope. I searched high and low for that polish until folding and buying it on eBay. The only two polishes I own from this collection are Topless & Barefoot and Sand Tropez!

This is 3 coats with Cult Nails Wicked Fast (I'm trying to use up my topcoats before I buy new bottles of SV & Grand Central Station). Because this polish pulls different in quite a few different lights, I photographed it with my dSLR as well as my iPhone.

It's quite the chameleon and I LOVE IT!! 

Do you have Sand Tropez? What are your thoughts on A French Affair as a collection?

Go check out Rach wearing one of my most favourite nudes of all time! 

Everyday Life: Week 20

This weekend was so busy, I kind of forgot it was the weekend. Oops.

We've been SCRAMBLING to find a new place due to shenanigans with our current landlord (they have a monopoly on most places in town...not fun). We were touring and worrying and researching and worrying and touring and and and and. But we found a place and signed this morning, so that's all taken care of. I honestly didn't realize it was Monday until I was on my way home from Bryant's earlier this afternoon.

This last week:

[the last veggie wrap left at work]

[blue on blue...this really makes me want a mint necklace]

[oh you need dis?]

[keds knows the way to my heart]

[I tried this on a whim and it's SO good!]

[We went to see Into Darkness for Bryant's birthday and we both loved it]

[out and about]

[more popcorn please]

[challenge: accepted]

[driving into the storm]

[best breakfast]

Essie In The Cab-ana

Can we just talk about the superfluous hyphen in the name of this polish? I don't understand why it exists. Cab-ana? Why not just cabana*? Am I missing something (probably)?

Anyway.

I picked this polish up at Meijer the other day after deciding that I needed it (after much internal debate between this polish and Avenue Maintain). I'm sure I will come home with Come Here in my clutches sometime in the near future but for now, gimme all the blues and greens. No, seriously.

This is 3 coats with Cult Nails Wicked Fast and 1 1/2 days of wear (so loads of paperwork, dishes, General Work Things, etc). I am impressed!

[Did you need dis window for swatching? Too bad, mine]

I reorganized/purged my stash this weekend. I compared this and Can't Find My Czechbook side-by-side and concluded that In The Cab-ana is brighter. Do you need both? Probably not. But also...do you love blue? Then yes. 

Essie, as long as you keep making fabulous blues, I will keep give you my money. 

*whenever I hear the word cabana, I immediately think of Legally Blonde and the part where the prosecutor holds up the banana hammock.

Bryant's birthday is tomorrow, so I will be cake-baking and blue-nail-polishing tonight/tomorrow. 

Happy Almost Weekend! 

Feeding My Obsession: Maybelline Colo(u)r Show Mint Mist

I don't know if I subconsciously ignored mint during the height of the colour craze (let's be real...it's still popular) but now I can't get enough. I also feel the need to add that I've never not loved mint. So, there's that.

I can't stop wearing mints, blues and aquas as of late. I have all these awesome polishes to show you but I can't stop pulling them out of my stash to wear. I think I officially have the summer bug (although it's currently in the 50's in Michigan and it was snowing/sleeting yesterday...we may never make it to summer).

I was wandering around Meijer on Saturday night (I had to stop for buttermilk for scones) and like any good blogger, always peruse the cosmetics section. This one just jumped out at me as did another blue but I'll save that for later =)

Mint Mist is a blue based green which makes me kind of lobstery but idcurrrr. This is my first Colo(u)r Show and I must say, I'm impressed! The brush is not giant and for a pastel, the formula isn't terrible. My only complaint is the bottle shape...it's hard to hold for swatches! This is 3 coats with Cult Nails Wicked Fast.

[the fleck on my index finger is a bubble from the topcoat that has lotion or something in it]

It is Limited Edition but I believe you should be able to locate it at Walgreens/CVS/Rite Aid etc. Nouveau Cheap has some great comparisons if you're curious!

Consider me impressed! I will say though: the award for my favourite mint goes to Essie Absolutely Shore. I adore that polish. 

So, uh. I cleaned out my closet last week. Observe:

Yeah. But the upside is: I finally got rid of stuff I've been "oh, but maybe I'll wear this for this thing" attitude. And my style has changed since the last time I purged stuff, so this felt great. 

On a personal note:

Bryant and I are moving in a couple of months. We're really happy where we're living right now but we'd like more space so we can have an office, instead of a desk in our room. And our apartment is poorly insulated/the air conditioner is from like 1978 which makes our utility usage...interesting. I am not looking forward to moving my polish :/ 

Anyway. Which hue of blue would you like to see next? Kidding/not kidding

Everyday Life: Week 19

BIG things happened this week! Our phone contract was due for an upgrade on Tuesday, so my dad and I both got iPhones!!

I am absolutely over the moon.

Bryant's a lot better, he's begun to eat solid foods and has his post-op check up on Tuesday that I'm driving over for. And Friday is his birthday!! He's got the whole week to mull over what kind of cake he wants =)

[ECS is just too tired to deal]

[making Shutterbean's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake]

[nail blogger NIGHTMARE]

[driving home from Bryant's]

[I just want to snuggle her all the time]

[the agenda from last night]

[the view out of Bryant's bedroom...I sleep in there when he's not home and take up alllll the space]

[beer+fries+friends]

[kitten fangs]

[new scarf and skirt]

[I've been looking EVERYWHERE for lavender and finally found some at our town's co-op!]

[DEAN'S LIST!!!!!!!]

[Joy The Baker's Lavender and Blackberry scones for Mama's Day]

[sleepy bb kitty]

[nachos]

[if it smells like lavender, I will buy it]

[his & hers]

Sinful Shine Rendezvous

Remember when I said I was going to drag my sister to Walgreens so I could buy more of these? Well, turns out she wanted to go polish shopping too (*Mr. Burns fingers* Eeeeexcellent).

She picked out this polish for herself and I'd admittedly almost walked away it with a few days earlier. I picked it up as well (yay matching sister polish!) thinking it was mint. It decidedly is not mint but idcurrrrr.

I love this colour so much I'm sporting a matching mani/pedi. If you know me, you know this NEVER happens. I've worn it twice this week. Totes rad.

I'm not sure how I'd categorize it: is it turquoise? is it aqua? is it pool? I just don't know. But either way, it is most wonderful. Rendezvous has a slight shimmer-not enough to be noticeable but enough to add dimension and soften the overall feel.

Easily my favourite turquoise/aqua/etc. And this is coming from someone that adores For Audrey *ducks*

This is 3 coats, with SV.

ALL THE AWARDS. 

I feel safe saying that they absolute smacked this one out of the park. Gone. Into the Stands. Grand Slam in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs and bases loaded. 

Four for you, Glen Coco. You GO, Glen Coco. 

Have you bought any of these polishes yet? I'm hoping they're included in the next Walgreens sale so I can go back and buy all the blues & greens. 

And because ECS just can't handle how rough her life is: 

and kitten toes for your consideration